In brief
Vancouver police confirmed that nine individuals have been killed after a vehicle struck attendees at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival on April 26, 2025. The driver, a 30-year-old man, was taken into custody. Authorities ruled out terrorism, stating that the driver was known to them. Eyewitnesses managed to subdue him until police arrived.
The authorities described the event as a “mass casualty incident” and offered condolences to all affected by the tragedy. Photographs from the scene revealed a heavily damaged SUV with deployed airbags, evidencing the severity of the crash. The annual festival commemorates Datu Lapu Lapu, a revered figure in Philippine history, drawing significant community participation. Steve Rai, the interim police chief, addressed the media but did not clarify the driver's motive for the crash. The community is grieving as investigations continue into this devastating event that disrupted a celebratory occasion with violence and despair.
